As
soon as you can, contact the parish closest to the
Catholic party, whether you attend Mass in that parish or
not, regardless
of whether the wedding will take place in that parish. The Diocesan
Policy on Marriage states that "at
least six
months notice of marriage is normally required",
this is to allow preparation to be undertaken by the couple
and
the required paperwork to be completed. It is the
responsibility
of the priest or deacon to ensure that all the necessary
documentation is at hand, and to see that the documents are sent to the
place of marriage.

To
avoid possible complications, no wedding date should be fixed until
after the first meeting with the priest or deacon. This is to ensure
that you have a full understanding of all of the requirements necessary
for celebrating your wedding in the Catholic Church, and to prevent you
from losing non-refundable costs if the wedding date needs to be
changed. This initial visit will determine if both of you are free to
marry in the Church and allow the priest or deacon time to guide you
through the marriage preparation process.

If
your wedding is to take place outside the United Kingdom it is
essential that you
contact your local parish priest or deacon before any arrangements are
made with a priest in the other country. This is to
allow
time for
documentation to be completed and sent in advance of the wedding.
Marriage papers for weddings taking place in another
country travel via the Chancery Office at Archbishops
House,
to the Office of the overseas Bishop, before finally being sent to the
place of Marriage.

Presentations used by the SW
area team in their Marriage
Preparation Course

The
team presenting
the SW Area Marriage Preparation Course uses a series of
powerpoint slides to assist in the delivery of their material.
The presentations (in the order they are used
in the course) are as follows:

Couples booked on Marriage
Preparation courses
in SE London or Kent are most welcome to view the above presentations.

Early booking is
essential to ensure a place on a particular course.
It is important to contact a local priest or deacon at the earliest
opportunity to arrange
formal documentation and obtain any necessary permission to marry.